I tend to have a positive outlook when it comes to evaluating amateur players. I’ve gotten some feedback — some friendly, some not — about being too positive at times, but focusing on what players do well is more fun than the alternative. I try not to get too carried away with the positivity, but it can be difficult balancing my enthusiasm of promoting players from mid-major programs and non-traditional baseball powers with realistic pro forecasts that speak to the absurd rate of “failure” of even the best of prospects. I guess I can see their point: listing 58 players of interest on the Southland Conference list when only 19 got drafted last year might be a bit of overkill. Anyway, this is just my nice way of easing into an admission that I’m not in love with the Atlantic 10 this year from a draft perspective. In fact, there isn’t really one draft-eligible player in the Atlantic 10 that jumps out to me as a sure-fire top-ten round prospect. I could be wrong — it’s happened once before, probably — and the possibility that somebody could emerge between now and June is very real, but I don’t see any way around this being a down draft year for the conference. But — and here’s that damn positivity again — there are still some fun players with pro futures to discuss!

Logan Farrar is a well-rounded offensive player who does everything well but nothing spectacularly at the plate. If teams buy his long-term outlook as an infielder (based on what I know so far, I’m not sold), then his stock will rise. Chris Hess is a no-doubter infielder, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the similarly talented offensive player ahead of Farrar on some boards by June. I’ve long been enamored by Braxton Martinez, a strong hitter with some defensive questions to answer this spring. I know some who think he can play third, others who want to try him behind the plate, and others still who believe he’s a first baseman (where I believe he’ll be playing this season) in the long run. The first two options are obviously preferable, but I like him as a senior-sign at any spot.

The pitching side of things doesn’t inspire much confidence either. Greg Weissert can throw three pitches for strikes – 88-93 FB, 78-79 CU, mid-70s CB – and has missed bats at the kind of clip (10.45 K/9) to warrant his spot at the top. Zach Girrens does it with a little more heat (up to 94) and an average or better slider. Joey Ravert is one of college ball’s best two-way players, but his future is likely on the mound thanks to his 90-94 FB and power slider. He’s the kind of athlete who could take off in pro ball once he’s able to focus entirely on one side of ball. After the first few names, there’s lots of projection based more on talent than history: Nick Vichio (about 20 IP total to his name), Joseph Serrapica (7.71 ERA last year), and Jorge Jimenez (10.1 IP last year) all have a lot to prove in 2016, but with the talent to move quick.

Maybe meaningful storyline to follow: the Royals drafted five of the A-10’s twelve drafted players last year. At first I assumed it was just a coincidence or maybe just a case of having a trusted (and convincing) area scout frequenting conference games, but then it hit me: it’s the George Mason connection. Dayton Moore, JJ Picollo, Lonnie Goldberg, and area scout Ken Munoz all played ball at George Mason. If any team is going to have the best connections to the program and conference, it’s the team with three major decision-makers and a respected scout all with ties to the university. When Brandon Gum gets drafted Kansas City this year, remember you heard it here first.